Mumbai: Parents refuse Rs 750 for picnic, 14-year-old kills self

Adding to the alarming trend of school children committing suicide over parents’ disapprovals, a Std IX girl ended her life after she was refused money to join her classmates on a school picnic. The deceased was identified as Monika Govind Aryal (14).

According to officials from Manpada police station, the girl jumped from the fifth floor of an under-construction building in her locality on Sunday night. Monika was a resident of MIDC, Azade Gaon, Dombivli (E).

“Monday was the last day to pay Rs 750 for the picnic scheduled in January at Kamshet. The girl had promised all her friends that she would be joining them,” said API Vishnu Awhad from Manpada police station.

Around 11 pm on Sunday, when Monika’s parents returned home after shutting their Chinese stall, she reminded them about the deadline. But her parents told her that owing to ongoing financial crisis, they would not be able to afford it. However, Monika refused to accept their reasoning and started throwing tantrums.

Unable to bear her tantrums, Monika’s mother slapped her. “Monika then ran out of the house. Though her parents went after her, she vanished into the dark. Despite her parents’ best efforts, the girl remained untraceable. It was around 2 am that someone in the locality told them that a girl was rushed to the local civic hospital, as she had jumped from the nearby building. Upon inquiry, the girl turned out to be Monika. She was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The girl sustained severe head injuries as she landed on the iron rods kept below the building,” said Awhad.